Brought to you by: Fishtale Lodge
Steve McCadams'
Kentucky Lake Fishing Report for:
June 20th, 2003
This
week’s Kentucky Lake fishing report is still a good one for a variety of
anglers.
Crappie
action is good and the bass and catfish activity is holding up well. The
summer’s first mayfly hatch occurred last week too. So the bluegill are
still on the angling menu.
Surface
temperatures this week were in the 77 to 79 degree range and have warmed
slightly from last week.
Watercolor is still clear throughout the main lake area of Big Sandy but
there is some stain in the secondary bays due to a lot of rain earlier
this week.
The
Tennessee River portion of Kentucky Lake has some stain too as to some
of the major bays due to recent rains.
Observed
lake elevation at New Johnsonville is right around the summer pool level
of 359. It’s about the same at Kentucky Dam too.
The lake
has been falling slowly this week and anglers have had some current in
the main river.
Crappie
continue to hit good in such depth ranges as 11 to 14 feet. Anglers are
catching some good size fish too. While some anglers are trolling and
finding fish taking jigs and small spinners, others are having good luck
with vertical presentations over stakebeds and brushpiles.
Jigs
tipped with minnows are working best. The cloudy days have really kept
the crappie biting in the midrange depths, although a few fish are
residing in deeper ledges on the main lake.
Bass
have been hitting good this week for anglers working both shallow
weedbeds and bushes along shorelines. The willows along main river
islands have produced some dandy stringers too, although the larger fish
are somewhat hard to come by.
Some
anglers are working the main lake ledges with big crankbaits, Carolina
rigs, and Texas rigged worms in hopes of finding some larger fish.
However, there seems to be a lot of fish in the 14 to 15-inch size range
whether you fish deep or shallow.
Popular
lures continue to be the shad colored crankbaits and chartreuse and
blue. Black and blue jigs are working, as are worms in the red shad,
blue, and Tequila Sunrise colors.
Early
morning and late afternoon continue to produce some decent topwater
action. Jerk baits such as flukes and slugos are working, along with
Storm’s Chug Bug and Rebel’s Pop-R.
Tossing
a spinnerbait or buzzbait will get you some strikes too as the baitfish
are still relating to shoreline habitat such as bushes, grass, logs, and
willows.
Catfish
are still on the prowl and some big ones are being taken along the main
river channel lately. Some anglers are working the main riverbank while
others are fishing the deep holes with heavy tackle.
Popular
baits continue to be nightcrawlers, leeches, chicken livers, and shrimp.
Mayfly
hatches are underway along the main river islands and shorelines. There
was a big hatch last Sunday in the Lick Creek area. Look for more
hatches this week all along Kentucky Lake too.
Now is
the time to swing the flyrod and popping bugs or cast ultralight tackle
beneath the overhanging trees. You’ll see some fast action from a
variety of fish, namely bluegill, bass, and long ear sunfish.
Some
sauger are hitting crankbaits on the main lake ledges. A few anglers are
trolling for them and finding a keeper now and then.
Fishing
is good so take advantage of the action before the doldrums days of
summer arrive.
For The Lake Barkley Report
Click Here
For Other Kentucky Lake Fishing Reports
Click Here
Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide
here in the
Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.
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